How long is recovery from esophageal surgery?
Most people go back to work or their normal routine after 6 to 12 weeks. You will need more time to get better if you need other treatment for cancer, such as chemotherapy. It will take 3 to 4 months to get back to your usual activities.
How serious is esophageal surgery?
Like most serious operations, surgery of the esophagus has some risks. Short-term risks include reactions to anesthesia, more bleeding than expected, blood clots in the lungs or elsewhere, and infections. Most people will have at least some pain after the operation, which can usually be helped with pain medicines.
What are the three types of esophagectomy?
There are three types of open esophagectomies that a surgeon might perform:
- Transthoracic Esophagectomy (TTE) A TTE is performed through the chest.
- Transhiatal Esophagectomy (THE) During a transhiatal esophagectomy (THE), the esophagus is removed without opening the chest.
- En Bloc Esophagectomy.
What happens after esophagus surgery?
Possible problems after oesophageal cancer surgery include difficulty eating, or a leak where the surgeon joins the oesophagus to the stomach or the bowel. Other risks include infection, blood clots and bleeding. Many problems are minor but some can be life threatening.
Is esophagus surgery painful?
Pain – As with any surgery, a certain amount of pain is to be expected. For most patients, pain can be effectively managed with medication. Trouble swallowing –Trouble swallowing can be a side effect of esophageal cancer surgery if the patient’s esophagus becomes narrower.
How long is the hospital stay after an esophagectomy?
Most people stay in the hospital for 7 to 14 days after this surgery. You may spend 1 to 3 days in the intensive care unit (ICU) right after surgery.
What happens if your esophagus is removed?
When the esophagus is removed, the stomach is pulled up into the chest and reattached to keep the food passageway intact. This stretching of the stomach takes away the ability to eat large meals, as there is no longer a large “holding area” for food to be digested.
Is esophagectomy life threatening?
Background. Esophagectomy for esophageal cancer is associated with a substantial risk of life-threatening complications and a limited long-term survival.
Can you eat after esophagus surgery?
You will be on a liquid diet at first. Then you may eat soft foods for the first 4 to 8 weeks after surgery. A soft diet contains only foods that are mushy and do not need much chewing. When you are back to a normal diet, be careful eating steak and other dense meats because they may be hard to swallow.